GCSE History Medicine in Britain Revision Guide

A series of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to the history of medicine in Britain.

Black Death

A devastating pandemic in 1348 causing high mortality rates, caused by bubonic plague.

Four Humours

The ancient belief by Hippocrates that the body contained four fluids: blood, yellow bile, phlegm, and black bile; an imbalance was believed to cause illness.

Galen

A Greek physician whose theories dominated medieval medicine; he developed the treatment by opposites based on the four humours.

Miasma Theory

The belief that diseases were caused by 'bad air' or miasmas; linked to foul smells and unhygienic conditions.

Vaccination

The administration of a vaccine to stimulate an individual's immune system to develop adaptive immunity to a pathogen.

Pasteurization

A process developed by Louis Pasteur that involves heating liquids to kill harmful bacteria, preventing spoilage.

Royal Society

A scientific institution founded in 1660, which promoted research and the sharing of scientific knowledge.

Antiseptics

Substances that prevent the growth of disease-causing microorganisms, vital for maintaining cleanliness in surgical environments.

NHS

National Health Service established in 1948 to provide free healthcare at the point of use in the UK.

Jenner

Edward Jenner developed the first successful smallpox vaccine using cowpox.